Many economists expect the government on Thursday to report strong job growth in June after recent labor market indicators have trended higher.

Economists estimate the Labor Department will report that the private and public sectors added 215,000 jobs, continuing a string of solid gains. Capital Economics cited "upside risk" to its forecast after private payroll processor ADP said in a separate survey Wednesday that businesses added 281,000 jobs last month, far more than the 205,000 estimated and the most since November 2012.

The ADP report "increases our confidence that payrolls for June may have posted their fifth consecutive 200,000-plus monthly gain," RDQ Economics said in a research note. "The momentum in job creation appears to be firming."

Meanwhile, initial claims for jobless benefits — a barometer of layoffs — have continued to fall to pre-recession levels. The jobs report combines hiring and layoffs to tally a net gain or loss in employment.

Other surveys of the service sector, which makes up 80% of the economy, show employment picking up. And a monthly Conference Board survey indicates that more consumers are describing jobs as plentiful, and fewer are saying they're hard to get.

Economists estimate the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.3% last month.

Still, Labor's monthly figures are volatile. Goldman Sachs cited risks that Thursday's report could disappoint, noting that the "bounce-back in employment after this winter's slowdown could be losing some steam."

The payroll gains were broad-based. Professional and business services led, with 77,000 additional jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities added 50,000 and construction firms, 36,000 — the most since the latter stages of the housing boom in 2006.

According to recent Labor surveys, the economy added an average 231,000 jobs a month from February through May, vs. 194,000 last year. The gains came despite harsh winter weather that battered first-quarter growth and consumer spending that has slowed recently.

Last week, the Commerce Department said the economy shrank 2.9% in the first quarter, its worst showing in five years.

But Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics, which helps ADP compile the report, said: "Judging from the job market, the economic recovery remains fully intact and is gaining momentum."